*
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
March 28, 2024, 06:54:42 PM

Login with username, password and session length

Donate

We Appreciate Your Support

Recent

Author Topic: Curt's Great Italian Wars Project (Updated Feb 7/18: 'Renaissance Duet')  (Read 21248 times)

Offline Curt

  • Librarian
  • Posts: 151
    • Analogue Hobbies
Hi All,

I've had a keen interest in the Italian Wars for quite a few years, but have always been a little intimidated by the seemingly impenetrable history along with the bewildering assortment of uniforms, armour and heraldry. Nonetheless, a couple of years ago I found my courage and took my first tentative steps in building an Italian Wars collection. So with this in mind, I thought I'd use this post as both a journal of my stop-and-start efforts and hopefully give some encouragement to others who may be thinking of getting into this wonderful period, but have been hesitant to do so.

First off, I'll quickly state that I'm definitely not an expert in this period. Nonetheless, I love to do research, and both the library (support your local library!) and the internet are terrific resources for information on the Italian Wars. So for a beginner wanting to get a handle on the history and colour of the period, I'd highly recommend the following sources:

- Thomas F. Arnold, 'The Renaissance at War'

- Michael E. Mallett, 'The Italian Wars 1495-1559: War, State and Society in Early Modern Europe'

- Michael E. Mallett, 'Mercenaries and their Masters: Warfare in Renaissance Italy'

- F.L. Taylor, 'The Art of War in Italy, 1494-1529'

- Blog: 'Camisado' http://camisado1500s.blogspot.ca/

- Blog: 'Je Lay Emprins' http://je-lay-emprins.blogspot.ca/

- Blog: 'Painting Landsknechts' http://paintinglandsknechts.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1

- Blog: the virtually unpronounceable 'Olicanalad's Games' http://olicanalad.blogspot.ca/


Okay, for my first post I have a unit of Landsknecht pikemen.

This unit is composed of around 50 figures mounted on six bases. The figures are an assortment of Wargames Foundry, Artizan, Perry Miniatures and Pro Gloria (now Warlord). The flags are from Pete's Flags and Flags of War.

The irregular shaped bases are of my own design and sourced by the good folks at Warbases. They were inspired by those from BigRedBat of 'To The Strongest' fame.

I came up with the clear acrylic platters as a way to allow players to more easily move units around the tabletop while saving both fingers (from pikemen) and pikemen (from fingers). :)

Well, that's my 'first volley' - I'll try to get some more units posted in the future. Thanks for visiting and I hope a few of you found some of the information helpful.

Cheers!
« Last Edit: February 08, 2018, 04:59:41 AM by Curt »

Offline Keith

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1592
    • Small Wars Blog
Re: Curt's Great Italian Wars Project
« Reply #1 on: May 23, 2017, 09:36:50 AM »
Wow - love the figures and the basing is ingenious. Great work Curt.
An infrequent Blog http://small-wars.com

Offline Stuart

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 857
    • Army Royal
Re: Curt's Great Italian Wars Project
« Reply #2 on: May 23, 2017, 09:49:49 AM »
Not one to blow my own trumpet but have a look at my Landsknecht blog for tips and inspiration for painting;

http://paintinglandsknechts.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1

Stuart

Offline ArisK

  • Bookworm
  • Posts: 73
    • The Pear At War
Re: Curt's Great Italian Wars Project
« Reply #3 on: May 23, 2017, 10:25:34 AM »
Beautiful figures! And a great basing idea. Having the individual ones interlock must take a bit of planning.
It's also worth checking out J.R. Hale's "Artists and Warfare in the Rennaissance", it's a great resource.
best regards
Aris K.

Offline mweaver

  • Scatterbrained Genius
  • Posts: 2683
Re: Curt's Great Italian Wars Project
« Reply #4 on: May 23, 2017, 11:38:42 AM »
That unit is absolutely gorgeous!

-Michael

Offline Byblos

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 874
  • Les Echelles du Levant ...
Re: Curt's Great Italian Wars Project
« Reply #5 on: May 23, 2017, 11:49:35 AM »
Superb  :-*

Offline DintheDin

  • Galactic Brain
  • Posts: 6214
Re: Curt's Great Italian Wars Project
« Reply #6 on: May 23, 2017, 12:07:36 PM »
An excellent assortiment of figures harmoniously put together! A real eye candy! Superb flags! Congrats for your genuine basing idea!
Now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates. – Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi

Offline Larry R

  • Bookworm
  • Posts: 96
    • 7 Pillars of Wargaming
Re: Curt's Great Italian Wars Project
« Reply #7 on: May 23, 2017, 12:14:49 PM »
All a work of art. Magnificent! :-*

Offline Galloping Major

  • Scatterbrained Genius
  • Posts: 2434
    • www.gallopingmajorwargames.com
Re: Curt's Great Italian Wars Project
« Reply #8 on: May 23, 2017, 02:17:25 PM »


Offline Juan

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 936
    • Manche´s Walpurgisnacht
Re: Curt's Great Italian Wars Project
« Reply #9 on: May 23, 2017, 04:49:30 PM »
Wonderful, the painting work, the bases, the terrain...  :-* :-* :-*


Offline Curt

  • Librarian
  • Posts: 151
    • Analogue Hobbies
Re: Curt's Great Italian Wars Project
« Reply #10 on: May 23, 2017, 05:06:36 PM »
Thanks for the kind words everyone - it's very much appreciated.

@Stuart: Thank you for reminding me about your excellent Landsknecht blog (the problem with drafting a post at 3am is you have a tendency to slip on important details!). It's an absolutely terrific resource and I've amended my post to include it.

@ArisK: Thank you for the book suggestion, I'll definitely be checking that title out.

Offline AdamPHayes

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 600
    • Wargame Warrior
Re: Curt's Great Italian Wars Project
« Reply #11 on: May 23, 2017, 07:02:20 PM »
Astonishing bases and the best idea for movement trays I've seen.

Offline Captain Blood

  • Global Moderator
  • Elder God
  • Posts: 19305
Re: Curt's Great Italian Wars Project
« Reply #12 on: May 23, 2017, 07:34:16 PM »
It really is a feast for the eyes Curt. Wonderful work. I hope you'll add all your vignettes too  8)

Offline Anderson Collection

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 746
    • The Anderson Collection
Re: Curt's Great Italian Wars Project
« Reply #13 on: May 23, 2017, 07:34:49 PM »
Look great very well done.

Offline jambo1

  • Scatterbrained Genius
  • Posts: 2137
Re: Curt's Great Italian Wars Project
« Reply #14 on: May 24, 2017, 04:26:59 AM »
Super thread, your work is amazing!! Look forward to seeing more. :)

 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
0 Replies
2352 Views
Last post September 19, 2010, 05:53:43 PM
by Atheling
49 Replies
26078 Views
Last post April 07, 2015, 10:16:23 PM
by Hu Rhu
52 Replies
5457 Views
Last post January 30, 2022, 08:52:47 AM
by OB
0 Replies
636 Views
Last post May 19, 2022, 03:59:35 PM
by OB
8 Replies
1284 Views
Last post June 09, 2022, 04:38:44 AM
by Terry37